Ash receiver



(April 25, 1933. f

J. L. THOMAS ASH RECEIVER Filed Sept. 8, 1931 Inventor Attorney i Patented pr. 25', 19.1.33

UNITED STATES PATE NTr oFF-ICE JOSEPH L. THOMAS, OF MILAN, W'SHINGTON,. `SSGNOR 0F ONE-HALF.. T0 JOHN- vSAAID, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON ASH RECEIVER Application. filed September 8, 1931'. Serial No. 561,635..

My present invention relates to improvements in ash receivers for the accommodation of and use by smokers of cigars and cigarettes. lhile the improved ash receiver vor my invention is adapted for various uses, and may be installed for use in numerous laces to insure sanitary and cleanly condltions where smoking is practised, the receivers are especially designed for use in automotive vehicles. As is well known, the practice of throwing cigar butts, and especiallycigarette butts, and uneXtinguished matches from traveling automobiles, frequently results in starting fires along the highway, and in many instances the fires cause fatalities as well as do great ,damage to the countryside.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of one or more devices for use in an automobile in which the ashes from a cigar or cigarette may be deposited bythe smoker, in which the butts or uncosumed ends of the cigars or cigarettes may be deposited, and in which the match stems may be deposited after the match has been lighted and used. -The ash receiver of my invention is so constructed that the smoker will nd it more convenient to use the receiver, than to throw the unconsumed ends of cigars, cigarettes, or matches, out of the window, and the devices are ar- 0 ranged in such manner that a lighted butt, or a lighted match stem when deposited in the receiver, will be extinguished. Means are provided whereby the receiver may be emptied', if and when desired, without danger of setting lire to anything, and the contents of the receiver are thus disposed of with safety and in a cleanly and sanitary manner.A

The device of my invention is installed as a permanent accessory of an automobile, and

the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangementsot` parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example, and several modifications, of my invention, wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best modes I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. e Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the ioor and the front and back seats of an automobile which is equipped with two of the v ash receivers, the rear receiver being shown by dotted lines in convenient position for use by the occupant 'of the rear seat.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the funnel" shaped cup of the receiver.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view at the bottom or lower end of receiver, in closed position. Figure 3a is a detail perspective view of the coiled spring used in'Figure 3 for ieturning the oscillatable discharge sleeve to normal closed position.

Figure 4 is a view showing a slightly modified form of discharge device.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of another slightly' modified forni of the' ash 'receiver and discharge 'device therefor.

Figure 6 illustrates a still further modified form of the discharge device, using a pin and bayonet slot fastening.

Figure 7 illustrates a spring-retracted arrangement for the discharge device, and Figure 8 shows the receiver in open or discharging position.

In order that the installation, arrangement, and utility ofthe devices may be understood, I have shown two of them in Figure 1, where the floor of an automobile is indicated by the letter F. The front seat S and the rear seat R are designated, and the back B of the -ii'ront seat S, together with the instrument board I are also designated. The two receivers as shown are arranged with their funnel shaped cups C located in position for ready access by the occupants of the front and rear seats respectively, and the rear receiver, by dotted lines, is shown bent backwardly for'use by the occupant of the rear seat. The receivers are thus located in positions convenient for use, but out'of the way of the occupants of the car when not required for use.

Each device is substantially a duplicate of theotherand thedescription of one will sufce for both. The cup C, which as shown in Figure 2, is provided with a flaring mouth, is secured at the upper end of an upright pipe stem 1, and at its 'lower end, just above the ioor F, the stem is provided with a flexible pipe' section 2, in order that the cup may be' -leased.

pulled over, as indicated by dotted lines at the rear in Figure 1, for use by a smoker. The flexiblesection 2 is` of resilient construction to insure return of the cup and stem to normal position when the cup or stemis relBelow the flexible section a discharge pipe 3 is supported by means of screws 3, or in l closed by an inclined or diagonally extending bottom, and in the side wall of the pipe, above the bottom 4 is provided an opening or discharge port 5`. The discharge pipe is substantially enclosed within a sleeve 6 that is provided with an open bottom which also f extends diagonally across the sleeve on lines. complementary to the closed bottom 4 of the discharge pipe, and when the ash receiver is in closed position, as in Figure 3, the wall of the sleeve closes the outlet port` 5 of the discharge pipe 3.

The sleeve 6 is supported in such manner that it may be turned to uncover the outlet port or discharge opening 5 when the ash receiver is to be emptied, and for this purpose the sleeve is fashioned -with an annular, exterior ange 7 at its upper end, and a lug 8 against which the foot or hand may press to turn the sleeve.

A supporting collar 9 of larger diameter than the flange 7 is secured by screws 10 on the upper face or top of the floor F and the` flange 7 rests upon the collar to permit turning of the sleeve. The sleeve extends through -the opening in the floor board and is free to turn therein, and a springll is coiled about the exterior of the sleeve, under the collar, with its ends 12 secured to a pin 13 on the sleeve and to one of the screws 10, and the spring is arranged to hold the sleeve in normal position and to return it'to normal position after the pressure on the lug8 has been released.

Thus it will be apparent that the'ported end ofthe discharge lpipe and the front wall of the sleeve provide a closed pocket into which lighted cigar and cigarette ends, ashes, or match stems, are dropped, and because of the lackof air to support combustion in the pocket the cigar, cigarette or match will quickly'be extinguished. When it is desired to empty the ash receiver of its contents, pressure is applied by the foot or hand to the lug i8 ,to turn the sleeve through an arc of 180 defge'es to open the port 5, and the contents will beemptied, and when pressure is released yfrom the lug 8 the spring 11 again closes the port by restoring the sleeve to position of Figure 3.

In Figure 4, the knob 14, which is secured to the discharge pipe 3 is used to turn the discharge pipe within the stationary sleeve 15, and the discharge pipe is provided with a supporting or suspending flange 14a` that turns in the lower end of the flexible tube or pipe 2. J

The fixed sleeve 15 of Figures 4 and 5 is fashioned with an upper, exterior flange 16 that is secured by screws 17 to the top of the floor F, under the collar 9, 4and a space is provided between the under face of the collar and the top of the flange to accommodate a pin 18 that is fixed in the discharge pipe 3. When the port 5 of the discharge pipe is closed this pin 18 rests in a recess 19 of the flange 16, and prevents turning of the discharge pipe; lVhen the discharge pipe is to be turned to open port 5 the ash receiver is bodily lifted to free the pin from its recess, and then the receiver may be turned through an arc of 180 degrees to open thel In the form'of the invention shown in Figure 6 the discharge pipe 20 is fixed to the collar 9, and the lnside sleeve 21 is turned. The discharge pipe has a closed bottom 22 and the inner sleevehas a port 23, and by pressure on a knob 24 fixed to the inner sleeve and located in a bayonet slot 25-of the pipe 20, the inner sleeve may be turned to open the port 23.

In Figure 7 the inner sleeve 21 is turned by pressure against the knob 24, and the spring 11, which surrounds the sleeve and is located in/a groove 26 of the discharge pipe 20, is employed to return the sleeve to normal position. q c

As indicated in Figure 1, the upwardly inclined, or diagonally extending rear face or bottom of the oscillating member provided with the outlet port is facing toward the rear of the automobile, and when the ported member is turned to open the port, the* open port faces to'the rear of the car or automobile. In this position of the outlet port, and with the vehicle traveling forward, it will be apparent that the contents of the receiver will freely flow therefrom under suction created by the moving car, to clear out the receiver of its accumulated contents.

Y Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an ash receiver, the combination with a cylindrical stationary member and a concentric rotatable member, one of said members having a lateral port and a diagonally extending bottom forming a wall of the port, and the other member having a complementary open bottom having diagonally extending walls, of means for turning the rotatable member for alternately opening andfclosing the ash receiver. 2. In an ash receiver,v the combination with a pipe-stem anda cup thereon, a dischargepipe, and a swivel connection between said discharge pipe and pipe-stem, of a sup ort- .ing sleeve surrounding the lower end o the said discharge-pipe and provided with an open bottom having diagonally extending walls, saidl discharge-pipe having a'latera port and a diagonally extending bottom forming a wall of the port, and means for turning said discharge-p'pe to. alternately open and close the ash receiver. l5 3. In an ash receiver, the combination with a pipe-stem and a cu at its upper end, of a rotatable discharge-plpe, a resilient pipe section'secured to said pipe stem, a swivel connection between said resilient pipe section and the discharge pipe, said dischar e-pipe having a latera port and a diagona 1y eX- tending bottom forming a wall of the port, va concentric supporting sleeve for the discharge-pipe, said sleeve having an open bottom with diagonally extending walls for coaction with said lateral port, and means for turning the dischar e-pipe to alternately open and close the as receiver. A

In testimony whereof I ailix m si ature. JOSEPH L. T O S. 

